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Paul Joseph Kezele

TROY — Paul Joseph Kezele passed away peacefully on September 13, 2018, at Windemere Park in Troy, with his sister, Marion, and her husband, Bruce, by his side.

He was born on September 14, 1935, in Mohawk, to Joseph B. Kezele and Delia (Thibodeau) Kezele.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Shirley.

He is survived by his five children, Jeffrey (Alane) Isaacson, Kenneth (Shellie Usitalo) Isaacson, Douglas (Gayle) Isaacson, Dennis Isaacson and Heidi (Richard) Kezele-Cole; 13 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and three more on the way; two sisters, Carole (Henry) Collins and Marion (Bruce) Schmidlin; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Paul was a natural athlete, playing hockey, football, baseball and track. He set a record for the 180- yard low hurdles at Calumet High School in 1953.

He played hockey for the Southfield hockey leagues until age 71. His hockey bag is packed yet today, “waiting for the call.”

He tackled golf with the same enthusiasm as everything, even making his own clubs.

Paul loved to cook, and was a proud winner of the annual Chili Cookoff at Three Creeks Farm.

Family was very important to Paul, and he spent happy hours at family gatherings.

Paul and Shirley’s door was always open, and Apt. No. 9 was often occupied by family and friends.

He loved hunting with his dad, and his cousin, George Mrosz, often visited by more cousins at “the camp.”

Paul loved music, playing guitar, banjo and mandolin. He loved to sing and always wanted to write the perfect song.

He served in the Army, enjoying his time in Germany, where he picked his daughter Heidi’s name.

After leaving Ford Motor Company, Paul and his brother-in-law/ friend, Michael, started K and H construction.

Paul continued carpentry as Kezele Construction. He would have a job in a certain neighborhood, and wind up there for years, working for one neighbor after another, often becoming part of their family.

He never really retired from work, and his motto was, “I can fix anything but a broken heart.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Visitation will be at Sawyer Fuller in Berkley, MI 48072, sawyerfuller.com, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Saturday, September 22, 2018.